Kevin McCarthy (R-Cal.) was voted out of his United States House of Representatives speakership on Oct. 3 by a 216-210 vote. 208 House Democrats voted to remove McCarthy and eight House Republicans joined them to remove McCarthy. This is the first time in U.S. history that the House of Representatives has removed its leader.
The vote to overthrow McCarthy’s speakership was orchestrated by Representative Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) on the “motion to vacate.” He has been a longtime rival of McCarthy and tried to stop him from becoming speaker in 2023. Gaetz’s motivations have been questioned on why he pushed to remove McCarthy. “This isn’t a critique of the individual – it’s a critique of the job. The job hasn’t been done,” Gaetz said.
“Kevin McCarthy is a creature of the swamp. He has risen to power by collecting special interest money and redistributing that money in exchange for favors. We are breaking the fever now,” Gaetz said after the vote.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) said in a letter to colleagues that he wants to work with Republicans, but he was unwilling to provide the votes needed to save McCarthy.
“It is now the responsibility of the GOP members to end the House Republican Civil War,” Jeffries said, announcing the Democratic leadership would vote for the motion to oust the speaker.
In the past year, the Republican-controlled House has brought the U.S. to the brink of a default on $31.4 trillion of debt and a government shutdown.
Before the removal, McCarthy worked with House Democrats to keep the federal government open, abandoning the right side’s demands for spending cuts. A temporary funding bill was passed to avoid a shutdown and it was McCarthy’s choice to work with Democrats on the bipartisan issue that triggered the motion to vacate his position.
“I fought for what I believe in,” McCarthy said. “I believe I can continue to fight, but maybe in a different manner.”
Legislative activity will come to a halt until a new Speaker of the House is elected. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said that President Joe Biden “hopes the House will quickly elect a Speaker,” with another government shutdown looming if more funding is not passed by Nov. 17.
Representative Patrick McHenry (R-NC) will serve as the speaker pro tempore, according to House rules, until a new speaker is elected. The House will meet on Oct. 10 to discuss possible speakers and will vote on Oct. 11.
Possible candidates for the position are House Majority Leader Steve Scalise who serves as the number two Republican but currently has an ongoing battle with blood cancer. Kevin Hern, the chairman of the Republican Study Committee, the largest conservative group in the House, has “been approached by multiple members and is taking it very seriously,” a source familiar told CNN. House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan and House Majority Whip Tom Emmer are also contenders.
However, Emmer is providing Scalise with support. “Steve Scalise has been a friend for a long time. He would be a great speaker,” he said.
To elect a new Speaker, the House needs to be in a quorum, the minimum number of members are present to proceed. The speaker nominees from each party will be read aloud and then a roll-call vote will take place.
Members of the House will call out the name of who they vote for as speaker and whoever gets the majority of votes will become the new Speaker of the House.